Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
Official title: Prime Editing of CNS APOE4 to APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to Suppress Alzheimer's Disease APOE4-associated Amyloid and Tau Pathology
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11622616 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $708,663 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AG095450-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11622616 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals carrying the APOE4 risk variant who may be eligible for future studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without the APOE4 risk variant or those without Alzheimer's risk may not benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a genetic approach to reduce Alzheimer's risk by editing a brain protein called APOE to versions that are protective. Researchers plan to test how changing APOE4 to APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch in the central nervous system could lower amyloid and tau problems associated with Alzheimer's. The work uses mouse models that resemble human Alzheimer's to understand safety and potential effects before any human trials. If successful, this strategy could lead to new therapies for people with APOE4 who are at higher risk for dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce brain changes linked to Alzheimer's in people with APOE4.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown APOE variants influence Alzheimer's pathology, but this exact CNS gene-editing strategy is exploratory and aims to translate findings toward human trials.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crystal, Ronald G — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Crystal, Ronald G
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.